View full sizeBrent Wojahn, The OregonianTeachers picket outside Reynolds High School Monday morning.

Although negotiators for Reynolds
School District and its teachers made progress in all-night
bargaining, that seems to have dissolved this morning as teachers went out on strike.

"We made initial progress toward better
understandings on financial issues," said Joyce Rosenau, president of the
Reynolds Education Association. "Then that changed."

Rosenau blamed the setback on the
district's lawyer, Paul Dakopolis. "Rather than build on this new dialogue,
Dakopolis acted on behalf of the school board to fall backwards into the same
rut we have seen from them during the past year. His behavior and lack of
bargaining experience led to major setbacks," she said.

"We gave them a proposal that came
close to matching their wants for financial issues. They retreated further by
disregarding terms they had previously committed to."

Reynolds school district teachers walk the picket lineDozens of teachers arrived shortly before 7 a.m. outside Reynolds High School to walk the picket line. Many carried signs that said "On strike" and "I'd rather be teaching." Reynolds School District officials and the teachers' union remain at the negotiating table, attempting to reach a settlement in their year-long contract dispute.

Andrea Watson,
district spokeswoman, said the union rejected its most recent offer. "It
included concessions in contract language and a financial package totaling just
under $4 million over the next three years," Watson said.

Rosenau said the
district's proposals on other issues, such as teacher safety, were vague.

At 8 a.m., the
union was evaluating a new district proposal, she said.

Both sides said
they would continue negotiating throughout the day.

Below are Twitter updates from reporter Kimberly A.C. Wilson as the talks and the picketing progress:

8:31: "It means that the community is with us," says Reynolds HS English
teacher Teresa Brandt after a parent delivers donuts for striking
teachers.